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Spring has sprung and folks in the Athabasca region are feeling their oats with how many events are happening! From Farmers’ Markets to jet boat rallies to music festivals, there is plenty to do in the region this June and July!

Spring Fling – May 28 & June 4

Hosted by the Boyle and District Agricultural Society, the Spring Fling Barrel Racing series showcases some of the best barrel racers in the area. The riders compete for a jackpot prize every Sunday in May. The event features adults, youth and pee-wee competitors and their amazing horses. Sure to offer exciting racing action!

The races run from 10 am to 4 pm at the Boyle Rodeo Grounds, just east of the Village of Boyle.

Learn More Here

Rotary Golf Classic – June 2

The Rotary Club of Athabasca is gearing up for their 21st Annual Golf Classic. Held at the beautiful Athabasca Golf and Country Club, this annual event offers a day of fun, food and prizes. The challenging course keeps golfers on their toes amidst the Boreal Forest backdrop.

This fundraising event allows the Rotary Club to support community projects and initiatives to better the quality of life in the community.

If you didn’t get a chance to register for this year’s event, be sure to mark your calendar for next year.

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Jet Boat Rally – June 3

Get your motors running for the annual Athabasca River Jet Boat Rally and Poker Run! This year the event is hosted by the Athabasca Riverboat Association.

The event starts off at the Athabasca Riverfront Park, with registration happening at 10 am until 12 pm. Then the boats launch off for their poker run, picking up cards at 5 spots. The boats end up at the Riverside Recreation Area for food, live music and camping.

The next day, the Arnold Gorski Memorial Jet Boat Rodeo gives the boaters a chance to show off their skills.

The Play That Goes Wrong – June 9, 10, 11

Looking for a fun date night? Come out and experience “The Play That Goes Wrong” performed and produced by the Big River Arts Society. The Play That Goes Wrong was originally produced and performed on the West End Stage and on Broadway.

“An unconscious leading lady, a corpse who can’t play dead, a ruffled detective, and a word-mangling butler and others must battle against technical gaffes, forgotten lines, and sabotaging scenery in a quest to arrive all in one piece at the final curtain call.”

Start the evening with drinks and a delicious dinner at the Athabasca Seniors Centre. Then wander over to the Nancy Appleby Theatre to take in the show.

Purchase Tickets and Learn More Here

Athabasca University Homecoming – June 17

June 17 is going to be a big day in Athabasca! Come out and help Athabasca University’s Graduating Class of 2023 celebrate their convocation! Students, friends and family will take part in a day of activities ranging from campus tours, swimming at the Athabasca Regional Multiplex, a street dance, a BBQ contest and the Athabasca Farmers’ Market.

See the Schedule

AU Students Celebrate Convocation

Students and their guests will be arriving from Edmonton around 10 am for campus tours, lawn games with staff and faculty and activities at the Athabasca Regional Multiplex. Then the celebrations move to Downtown Athabasca for the Farmers Market, checking out Downtown businesses and the Alley Cat Street Dance.

Alley Cat Street Dance

The Alley Cat Street Dance is being presented by the Athabasca Chamber of Commerce and the Athabasca Advocate newspaper. They will be taking over 49th Street with all sorts of festival activities.

There will be local dance troupes performing, a cat adoption event, garage sale tables and businesses and non-profits with displays and sales.

Kick Off Summer

The Athabasca District Ag Society is celebrating the Summer with its “Kick Off Summer” event.

If you love BBQ, then one of the main attractions at the Kick-Off will be the “Show Us Your Meat” BBQ Ribs contest. Contestants will be slow cooking their ribs for the glory of the Best Ribs in Athabasca!

The rest of the activities include a bench show, petting zoo, kids rodeo, and equipment sales and displays. The 4H Club will be hosting the concession. This family-friendly event ends with a dance and cabaret!

Learn More Here

National Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration – June 21

Join the Athabasca Native Friendship Centre in celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day!

Starting at 4 pm, at the Athabasca Riverfront Park, there will be a free BBQ, door prizes, arts and crafts for the kids and Indigenous dancers and drummers performing.

The Magnificent River Rats Festival – June 30/July 1

One of the Athabasca Region’s cornerstone events is the Magnificent River Rats Festival! This annual event is 26 years running and showcases national and local talent, and celebrates Canada Day.

The two-day celebration centred at the Athabasca Riverfront Park offers performances on the Riverfront Stage, a Farmers’ market, kids’ activities, a beer garden, an art show and sale, a classic car show and more!

Day one, June 30, will be Rock themed with a Heart tribute band, Punch Drunk Cabaret and with Jimmy and the Sleepers headlining. Day two, Canada Day, is country themed with Duane Steele headlining.

Purchase Tickets and Learn More Here

Celebrate the Athabasca!

The history of the Athabasca River is part of the history of the Indigenous Peoples and explorers who used it as a transportation route for trade.

One of the settlements along the river,  Fort Assiniboine, is celebrating its bi-centennial. To help mark the occasion the Canadian Voyageur Brigade Society will be travelling on the river and making stops along the way.

The final stop will be the Athabasca Riverfront Park, where Town officials will be welcoming them ashore.

Learn more about the history of the river, Athabasca Landing and the people who travelled here at this family-friendly event. There will be entertainment and refreshments.

Athabasca Airport Fly-in BBQ – July 15

Another long-standing event in the Athabasca region is the Athabasca County Fly-in BBQ held at the Athabasca Regional Airport.

“Each year the Athabasca County Fly-In Barbecue includes more people from the aviation community and the local community. The Fly-In sees over 1,000 people attend the event and pilots “Fly-In” from all over Alberta. Incredible! Those who attend are welcome to check out some aircraft, displays, cars, and activities for the kids and learn about our airport.”

Starting at 11 am, pilots and guests can take in an airshow, free BBQ, a car show and much more.

Learn More Here

Farmers’ Markets

Athabasca Famers’ Market – Saturdays 10 – 2 PM

During the summer months, the Athabasca Farmers’ Market is held outdoors at the Riverfront Park from 10 am to 2 pm.

Spend the afternoon checking out artisan crafts, locally grown food and yummy treats.

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Boyle Farmers’ Market – Thursdays 12 – 3 PM

The Boyle Farmers’ Market is held every Thursday from noon to 3 pm at the Boyle Community Centre. Enjoy home baking, crafts and local produce.

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Coming Up In August and September

Some upcoming events to watch for are:

• The Rochester Fair
• Boyle Fiesta Days
• The Boyle Wildberry Festival
• Kapâwinihk Wilderness Triathlon

Be sure to check our Events Calendar regularly to stay up to date with events happening in the Athabasca Region. We update it every Friday. You can also submit your own event here. All submitted events require admin approval.

So if you are looking for a fun weekend or day trip, keep the Athabasca region in mind! Not only do we have spectacular Nature, and deep History but Events that will keep you entertained all summer long!

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Photo: Grand Rapids Wilderness Adventures

Getting Wild

The Athabasca region is uniquely situated on the Alberta Boreal forest’s lower edge and bisected by the Athabasca River. There are many areas that boast untouched forests, pristine lakes, abundant wildlife and other natural features that offer travellers a taste of the Alberta wilderness.

Just an hour and a half north of Edmonton and four and a half hours from Calgary, the Athabasca region makes for an easy wilderness getaway for all skill levels. Let’s take a look at some of the possibilities…

Grand Rapids Wilderness Adventures

One of the premiere wilderness experiences in the Athabasca region is heading down the Athabasca River by jet boat to the Grand Rapids Wilderness Adventures lodge. Your hosts, Darcy and Shirley Zelman will show you the rarely visited natural and historic sites on this stretch of the Athabasca River.

You’ll meet up in the town of Athabasca and travel for approximately 5 hours downriver, stopping to check out multiple sites. The first stop is an area with real old-growth forests where some of the trees are hundreds of years old and so big you can’t wrap your arms around them.

Next, you’ll stop to check out an abandoned Hudson’s Bay trading post. There are a lot of relics left behind displaying the history of the Athabasca River being an important transportation route in early Canada.

Don’t be surprised if there are stops to view the Boreal species that inhabit the area like wolves, bears, moose, deer and raptors to name a few, as the river valley has abundant and varied wildlife.

Your hosts will set you up in a cozy cabin and provide delicious meals to keep you energized for your adventure. You’ll be kept busy with opportunities to fish on the river or paddle around in a canoe.

One of the best features of this trip is the Grand Rapids themselves. A unique geological occurrence created these rapids:

The rapids are a result of river erosion of the 110-million-year-old sandstone of the Grand Rapids Formation. This formation, which forms the large, nearly vertical outcrop on the east side of the valley, is divided into three major sandstone layers. The lowermost level creates the rapids because it is filled with large, two-to-three-metre wide concretions that often contain pieces of petrified logs. These concretions were formed in a similar fashion to those at Red Rock Coulee. As the river erodes away the sand matrix, these huge concretions come loose and dam the river bed. – A Traveller’s Guide to Geological Wonders in Alberta by Ron Mussieux and Marilyn Nelson

GRWA offers a variety of packages. Be sure to book early, as this exclusive adventure fills up quickly.

Check out the videos produced by “Let’s Go Outdoors” on their experience with Grand Rapids Wilderness Adventures:

Episode 1: https://youtu.be/eSDvmqSC2go
Episode 2: https://youtu.be/K491X3ih0lo
Episode 3: https://youtu.be/KnT5X1DdZaI

Grand Rapids Wilderness Adventures Online:

www.athabasca-river.com
www.facebook.com/Athabasca.River

The La Biche River Wildland

Just to the northeast of the town of Athabasca lies the La Biche River Wildland. This pristine natural area is only accessible through Poachers Landing.

There are over 17,000 hectares of undisturbed Boreal forest:

La Biche River Wildland Park protects an undisturbed native boreal forest landscape that consists of wetlands and dense forests of poplar, aspen, spruce, birch and fir. The area provides habitat for black bears, lynxes, wolverines, woodland caribou, moose and beaver. – Alberta Parks

There are no formal campgrounds here, other than at Poachers Landing, but backcountry camping is allowed all year long. Other activities include OHV use (please stay on trails to protect this sensitive area), horseback riding, hiking, boating, snowshoeing and more. Special permits are required for fishing, hunting, guiding and other activities.

The Poacher’s Landing campground has 6 unserviced sites and is a first come, first served campsite. There is a boat launch into the Athabasca River, a cookhouse and restrooms. It opens on May 20 and closes on September 20.

https://albertaparks.ca/parks/north/la-biche-river-wpp/information-facilities/

The Peace River Wilderness Trail

Part of the Trans Canada Trail includes the Peace River Wilderness trail that runs from just north of Athabasca to northeast of Smith, AB. This route was first used by the Indigenous peoples of the area. With the advance of colonial traders, settlers and the gold rush, Euro-Canadian explorers used this trail as a route north.

Spectacular wilderness area with interesting native flora and fauna and views of the Athabasca River. Moose, elk, deer, wolves, black bears and most boreal mammals are abundant. Bald eagles and other raptors make their permanent home in this area. The trail itself was part of one of the principal routes attempted by gold seekers headed to the Klondike in 1898-99 and was a primary settlement path followed by pioneering farming families to the Peace River country until approximately 1920 when it was superseded by the railway. Remnant historical sites located along the trail include gravesites and the Tomato Creek stopping house (developed by the Goodwins in 1910), portrayed in the movie, “Silence of the North.” – http://www.albertatrailnet.com/

The trail follows the Athabasca River through some old-growth Boreal forest. Expect wildlife like bears, wolves, moose, deer, and other Boreal species. It is approximately 60 km from trailhead to trailhead. Permitted uses include hiking, cross-country skiing, bicycles, horses, snowmobiles, and all-terrain vehicles.

The southern trailhead is approximately 30 km north of the Town of Athabasca. There is some parking at each trailhead, and there are three unserviced campsites along the route. Please pack out all garbage and stay on the marked trail. Be bear smart when storing food.

http://www.albertatrailnet.com/for-trail-users/trans-canada-trail/fact-sheets/peace-river-wilderness-trail/ 

White Earth Valley Natural Area

If back-country camping isn’t your speed, the White Earth Natural Area provides a Boreal wilderness experience with the comfort of a campground nearby in Long Lake Provincial Park. It is located about 110 km north of Edmonton on Highway 831, which is accessible from Highway 63 North. It’s about 20 km south of the village of Boyle, where you can stock up on supplies.

The White Earth Trail is 17 km long.  The path winds through a wide variety of rich habitats, where an abundance of diverse plants and wildlife thrive.  It’s accessible from adjacent Long Lake Provincial Park during operating season (May to October), with parking at the trailhead.  The trail can also be accessed year-round from Township Road 621 at the southern end of the Natural Area. – Alberta Parks

The White Earth Valley NA is adjacent to thousands of hectares of undisturbed Boreal forest which promotes great habitat for many Boreal species, including bears and wolves. Use caution around wildlife and be bear-smart with food storage.

https://www.albertaparks.ca/parks/north/white-earth-valley-na/

If you have questions about wilderness experiences in the Athabasca region or anything else Athabasca Region Tourism related, please contact us.

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